Infection Control Awareness

The infection control awareness course is assessed using a short 10-question end-of-course assessment based on the learning outcomes listed below.

On completion of infection control awareness training, those who attend should be able to:

• Identify the primary reasons for preventing and controlling infection
• Identify the standards for infection control and who is responsible for regulating and enforcing compliance
• Identify the responsibilities of both the employer and employee
• Define the term infection and list its associated group microorganisms
• List the factors that increase the risk of infection
• Identify contaminates, contamination sources and precautions
• Identify good hand hygiene practices and PPE donning and doffing techniques
• Identify the chain of infection and its components
• List the three processes of decontamination

The risk of infection exists for both care staff and the often-vulnerable service users under their care. Therefore, care staff must be trained in infection prevention and control to enable them to comply with the standard precautions and minimise the spread of infection.

Infection control training is also a legal requirement under the health and safety legislation where a significant risk exists from infectious disease. For example, the threat posed by infection is often greater when a group of sick or older people come together to receive treatment and care, such as in a nursing or residential home. Therefore, the implementation of the precautions and controls covered within an infection control awareness can play a significant role in reducing the level of risk of infectious outbreaks.